saw a figure that seemed to emerge from the crater itself. The
air there was so pestiferous that I could not have conceived a human
creature could breathe it, and live. I was so astounded that I stood
still as a stone, till the figure came over the hot ashes, and stood
before me, face to face. Santa Maria, what a head!"

"What! hideous?"

"No; so beautiful, but so terrible. It had nothing human in its aspect."

"And what said the salamander?"

"Nothing! It did not even seem to perceive me, though I was near as I am
to you; but its eyes seemed to emerge prying into the air. It passed by
me quickly, and, walking across a stream of burning lava, soon vanished
on the other side of the mountain. I was curious and foolhardy, and
resolved to see if I could bear the atmosphere which this visitor had
left; but though I did not advance within thirty yards of the spot at
which he had first appeared, I was driven back by a vapour that wellnigh
stifled me. Cospetto! I have spat blood ever since."

"Now will I lay a wager that you fancy this fire-king must be Zanoni,"
whispered Mervale, laughing.

The little party had now arrived nearly at the summit of the mountain;
and unspeakably grand was the spectacle on which they gazed. From
the crater arose a vapour, intensely dark, that overspread the whole
background of the heavens; in the centre whereof rose a flame that
assumed a form singularly beautiful. It might have been compared to a
crest of gigantic feathers, the diadem of the mountain, high-arched, and
drooping downward, with the hues delicately shaded off, and the whole
shifting and tremulous as the plumage on a warrior's helmet.

The glare of the flame spread, luminous and crimson, over the dark and
rugged ground on which they stood, and drew an innumerable variety of
shadows from crag and hollow. An oppressive and sulphureous exhalation
served to increase the gloomy and sublime terror of the place. But on
turning from the mountain, and towards the distant and unseen ocean, the
contrast was wonderfully great; the heavens serene and blue, the stars
still and calm as the eyes of Divine Love. It was as if the realms of
the opposing principles of Evil and of Good were brought in one
view before the gaze of man! Glyndon--once more the enthusiast, the
artist--was enchained and entranced by emotions vague and undefinable,
half of delight and half of pain. Leaning on the shoulder of his friend,
he gazed around him, and heard wit